今天的舌头概念可能令人困惑，有些教会表达了这样的信念，即一个人说的大多数现在看不懂的东西都是圣经所说的圣经概念。其他教会教导说的不是说方言，还有其他教会教导这个概念的其他变化。那么圣经实际上怎么说呢？
据我所知，犹太教中没有任何东西可以支持说方言的概念，这对基督教来说意味着它必须是新约圣经的概念。圣经中第一个记录的提及方言的记载证实了这一点，正如使徒行传2中所言，而具体提到的言语在使徒行传2：4中。
当圣灵给他们说话时，他们都被圣灵充满，并开始用其他方言说话。 –使徒行传2：4
尽管《旧约》没有提到说方言，但确实提到了类似的东西，在巴别塔的创世记11章中，言语发生了变化：
7 来吧，让我们走下去，在那里混淆他们的语言，以使他们可能听不懂对方的讲话。” 8 耶和华使他们从那里散布到全地的外地，于是他们停止建造这座城市。 –创世记11：7-8
因此在创世纪中，还有一个例子，说明上帝改变了人们的言语和语言。但是有一个关键的区别，您注意到了吗？
在创世记11章中，上帝 困惑 他们的语言，使人们彼此不了解。圣经并没有表明每个人都认为自己在说胡言乱语，或者他们不理解自己在说什么，所以似乎他们觉得自己在讲正常。但是，语言很混乱，因此其他人不理解他们说的话，同样，他们也不理解其他人说的话，因为他们实际上是在说不同的语言。促进人类在地球上扩散以及最有可能建立不同文化群体的语言。
但在使徒行传2中，它表明门徒们在说“其他语言”。继续通过使徒行传2，我们看到当时耶路撒冷有很多说外语的人，他们对所听到的声音的回应记录在使徒行传2：6-11中。
6 当这种声音出现时，许多人聚集在一起，感到困惑，因为每个人都听他们说自己的语言。 7 然后他们都惊叹不已，彼此说：“看，难道不是所有这些说伽利略语的人吗？ 8 如何 是那个吗 我们听到了，每一种都以我们自己的母语出生吗？ 9 居住在美索不达米亚，犹太和卡帕多细亚，蓬图斯和亚洲的帕提亚人，梅代斯人和埃拉姆派人， 10 Phrygia和Pamphylia，埃及以及毗邻Cyrene的利比亚部分地区，来自罗马的游客，无论是犹太人还是pro妓， 11 克里特人和阿拉伯人-我们听到他们用自己的舌头讲着上帝的奇妙行为。” –使徒行传2：6-11
您是否注意到“每个人都听他们说自己的语言”和“用我们自己的语言”？
这里的要点是，舌头是语言的代名词，每个人都用自己的语言听到门徒们传讲的内容。
这与人们无法相互理解的《创世记》 11章截然不同。相反，每个人都可以理解门徒在说什么。在使徒行传2中，我们进一步看到彼得抓住机会讲了一个动人的讲道，使听众理解并以其母语接受了3000的洗礼（使徒行传2:41）。
这是一个有趣的差异。在一种情况下，该语言感到困惑，将人们驱散了，而在另一种情况下，它却没有引起人们的混淆。
对我来说，这表明圣经中说方言的概念很明确，每个人都能听懂以他们最清楚的语言所讲的内容。
然而，根据圣经的描述，没有人或几乎没有人能理解的一种混乱的语言不是说方言。
《What is Speaking in Tongues According to the Bible?》有2条留言
Acts 2: 1-4 Describes what happens when a person receives the Holy Spirit within.
1) The 120 people were praying to receive the Holy Spirit. This means that each person had a repentant heart. (the word repentant means to about face. In context it means prepared to start over anew living one’s life God’s way. In Greek repentance does not mean to dwell on the past) Acts 2:38.
2-3) As the people prayed in their language each person received the Spirit within. This was known because all of a sudden (like as of fire [verb not noun] as quick as a flash, as fast as grease lightening, in context: like the roaring flames jumping from tree to tree in a bush fire.) they all began to pray in cloven (a different) language.
4) This verse sums up what happened. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to pray in the Spiritual language, as the Spirit enabled them to.
At this time other people recognised the languages spoken and were amazed.
The fact that the languages were recognisable, was not to communicate to the multitude, but rather to get their attention- they marvelled!
When a person prays in tongues (prays in or by the Spirit) they are praying the wonderful works of God- praise in other words. When I pray in the Spirit I start by saying something like praise your name, Hallelujah glory to God, victory in Jesus etc. Usually, I only get one or two words in before the Spirit changes my language. When I pray my mind often wanders as I think about life. The Holy Spirit praying my thought in intercession to God. As Romans 8 says: praying in groanings (complaints, requests) in words that cannot be uttered (in words that I can’t express myself). Often one does not even know how they are really feeling, let alone put the feelings into words.
When I pray it is like a Spiritual hug from God.
Speaking in tongues is not an optional gift, it is mandatory. It is God’s confirmation, His signature on the contract that the new Christian has with Him. It is Gods promise (v:39) of that which can be seen and heard (v:33) to as many as God shall call.
A person can’t ask God for the gift of tongues. So, if you have asked and nothing has happened, I am not surprised. One only speaks in tongues for the first time when God is satisfied with a person’s repentance. Read Acts chapter 8: 4-25. The people believed and were baptised but had not yet received the Holy Spirit. When they did receive , Simon a professional con artist of magic was convinced by what he saw. Although not written, He saw people being prayed for and then receive the Spirit with the sign of speaking in tongues, just as on the Day of Pentecost.
If just accepting God into our heart (that is like a filthy rag) was all that is required, then I for one would have been mistaken. I grew up an atheist. At the age of sixteen I sought the Holy Spirit for a month and a half and still did not speak in tongues. I thought I was repenting. One day I realised that I was telling God to prove Himself and then I would follow. My repentance though I realised was far from satisfactory. At that moment I was sincere for the first time in my prayer. I was willing to follow God if, if He was real and loved me. Then without warning I found it difficult to say the words that I was trying to say and then I heard myself praying in a different language. I stopped and thought wow!
Not coming from a churchy background, it took me about ten years before I realised that being Spirit filled is all about growing in a relationship with God. I have now been a Christian for forty years.
Hi Simon,
Thanks for taking the time to write such a lengthy response. I am not going to argue with your personal experience as only you and God know the truth of that.
I’ve grown in my views on tongues since I first wrote this article and while I no longer believe it to be something that is clearly understood by everyone around in every situation, however, I thought your interpretation of Acts 2 seemed very contradictory to other parts of the Bible that talk about spiritual gifts. I’ll run through why I thought this.
You said:
“Acts 2: 1-4 Describes what happens when a person receives the Holy Spirit within.”
This leads into the assertion you made:
“Speaking in tongues is not an optional gift, it is mandatory. It is God’s confirmation, His signature on the contract that the new Christian has with Him. It is Gods promise (v:39) of that which can be seen and heard (v:33) to as many as God shall call.”
However, v39 does not say what you are suggesting, it says:
Acts 2:38-39:
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Peter does not say people will receive the gift of tongues but that they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in multiple books that there are different kinds of gifts of the Holy Spirit, tongues is just one of them, and not everyone will receive every spiritual gift, 1 Corinthians 12 spells it out: the Spirit distributes them (vs 4) just as he determines (vs 11).
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
This is emphasised in 1 Corinthians 12:27-30:
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
So to suggest that tongues is mandatory to show that you have a repentant heart and have thus received the Spirit doesn’t make sense with the Bible and is transgressing Paul’s warnings in Romans 14:13-23 whereby such a teaching is putting a stumbling block or obstacle in the way of another child of God and could cause them to turn away from Christ simply because they have received a different gift to you.
We each have a specific role in the body of Christ and the gifts we receive are specific to the role that we play.
Both the lists in 1 Corinthians put tongues last, but 1 Corinthians 12:28 actually specifies a level of priority for each gift with tongues last in the list of importance and apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, healing, helping and guiding all more important than tongues.
This does make sense as 1 Corinthians 12:7 says each gift is given for the common good. Contextually it is talking about the body of Christ and the contribution each person and their gifts makes to that body. So the common good, for the body of Christ would be to grow the church and build up those within the church. All of the gifts mentioned in these passages and others like Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 contribute to the common good of the body of Christ. Speaking in tongues, at least to me, seems the least beneficial to the common good of the body of Christ except in one scenario:
Acts 2:6 makes it clear “When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.”
Each one heard their own language being spoken.
It’s impossible to connect with people that can’t understand you, so tongues that cannot be understood by anyone would defeat the purpose of the spiritual gift, speaking with no-one understanding doesn’t serve the common good of the body.
1 Corinthians 12 does include interpretation of tongues as a gift also, which certainly does allow for speaking and only being understood by a select few.
1 Corinthians 14 builds on this.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:2 agrees that tongues may not be understandable. However, 14:4 says tongues comes with the risk of edifying yourself rather than the church unless someone can interpret (14:5), which is probably why Paul had earlier put it last in the list of importance in 1 Corinthians 12 and says in 14:1 to desire the gift of prophecy more than other gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:5 wishes that everyone received the gift of tongues, but that prophesy is more preferable. Why wish this if it were mandatory that everyone received the gift of tongues?
1 Corinthians 14:5 also says that the gift of tongues is only of value to the edification of the church if it can be interpreted.
1 Corinthians 14:6-25 then goes into extensive detail on when, how, and for whom tongues is for.
14:6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
14:9 Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
14:10-11 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.
14:13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
14:15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
14:16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
14:17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
14:19 in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14:21 In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
14:22-25
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,
25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
These passages make it pretty clear. Tongues are a sign for unbelievers, not believers, and they only serve as a sign when the tongues are understandable or at least interpretable.
1 Corinthians 14:27-28 emphasises the importance of interpretation
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
So if the tongues are not in the form of being understandable by all around them like those in Acts 2, then someone MUST interpret or the speaker should keep quiet. Why? Because if it’s not understandable, it doesn’t edify the church and it doesn’t reach unbelievers.
Your reading between the lines in Acts 8:4-25 is reasonable, however, speaking in tongues is not the only sign of receiving the Holy Spirit and Paul makes it clear that tongues will not reach unbelievers unless it is intelligible or interpretable, so while Simon the Sorcerer may have seen some of the people speak in tongues, he likely witnessed other signs too, at the very least, the gift of interpretation, but Pauls letter to the Corinthians suggests the gift of prophecy would be a better tool to reach Simon, and also something that would be of far more value to him as a magician to the point that he would be willing to offer money to receive it, so I’d suggest that he witnessed multiple spiritual gifts but that it was the gift of prophecy that he really wanted. Any magician could make up a language and claim tongues, but to be able to prophesy and have those prophecies be completely accurate, that would be something of substantial value! For that matter, the gifts of healing and performing miracles would also be a perfect fit and fare more valuable to a magician than tongues.
Remember, Simon believed and was baptised (Acts 8:14), but he was not truly converted and was still a captive to his old ways of sin (Acts 8:21, 23).
I agree with you 100% though, being Spirit-filled is all about growing in your relationship with God! It’s a constant process and we can only continue to grow in our relationship by spending time with God and allowing the Holy Spirit to work on us.
I’d love to hear your thoughts!